Delivery

If the role you're interviewing for works with clients, definitely be ready for one of these. Find an example of a time where you successfully represented your company or team and delivered exceptional customer service.

☛ Describe a time when it was especially important to make a good impression on a client. How did you go about doing so?

☛ Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client's expectation. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?

☛ Tell me about a time when you made sure a customer was pleased with your service.

☛ Describe a time when you had to interact with a difficult client. What was the situation, and how did you handle it?

☛ When you're working with a large number of customers, it's tricky to deliver excellent service to them all. How do you go about prioritizing your customers' needs?

A lot of seemingly random interview questions are actually attempts to learn more about what motivates you. Your response would ideally address this directly even if the question wasn't explicit about it.

☛ Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment.

☛ Describe a time when you saw some problem and took the initiative to correct it rather than waiting for someone else to do it.

☛ Tell me about a time when you worked under close supervision or extremely loose supervision. How did you handle that?

☛ Give me an example of a time you were able to be creative with your work. What was exciting or difficult about it?

☛ Tell me about a time you were dissatisfied in your work. What could have been done to make it better?

☛ Tell me about a time when you needed to persuade someone to do something that they did not want to do? How did you go about this?

☛ Describe the most difficult communication you have needed to deliver to an inattentive audience. What did you do to prepare for this?

☛ In any role you have people you would rather not work with because their way of communicating is different to yours, or they're known to be difficult. Provide an example of a time where you have encountered this.

☛ Describe your decision making process when you choose to communicate via the phone, email or face to face?

☛ What do you think are the characteristics of a really effective communicator? When have you won an audience?

☛ Have you ever thought that people have not listened to you? What did you do in this situation?

☛ Tell me about a time where you have needed to sell an idea to your colleagues? How did you approach this?

☛ How would you describe your written communication style? Have you ever had to sell an idea through written words alone?

☛ Describe an idea that you've needed to sell "upwards." How did you go about this? What was the result?

☛ What was the most protracted negotiation you have managed? Describe a situation where you have needed to use many different tactics or techniques to overcome objections or obstacles?

☛ Have you ever given an impromptu presentation? How did that go?

☛ What are the elements of successful presentations? Describe one you have given. How did you know that you were effective in your communication?

☛ How do you know that you are a good communicator? Give an example of how you determine this?

☛ Provide an example of a situation when someone brought you a new idea that was odd or unusual and you did not want them to implement it. What did you do?

☛ Describe a goal that you have achieved that has made you proud. Why was this important to you? What steps did you take to achieve your goal?

☛ Tell me about a time where you did not succeed at something?

☛ Many times in our lives we will have situations where we feel like we're juggling too much. Describe a time where you have thought this. What did you do and what was the result?

☛ How do you keep track of multiple priorities and still focus on quality. Describe a time when you did this.

☛ What's the worst setback you have encountered in your work? What did you do in this circumstance? How did you manage this situation? What did you learn?

☛ Describe a time where you ensured that others keep focussed on short, medium or long term goals? Is there anything you did to keep them focussed? How did this turn out?

☛ Describe a project you have managed where you needed to ensure others met their milestones or targets.

You probably won't have any trouble thinking of a story for communication questions, since it's not only part of most jobs; it's part of everyday life. However, the thing to remember here is to also talk about your thought process or preparation.

☛ Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully persuade someone to see things your way at work.

☛ Describe a time when you were the resident technical expert. What did you do to make sure everyone was able to understand you?

☛ Tell me about a time when you had to rely on written communication to get your ideas across to your team.

☛ Give me an example of a time when you had to explain something fairly complex to a frustrated client. How did you handle this delicate situation?

☛ Tell me about a successful presentation you gave and why you think it was a hit.

☛ Describe a time where you have gone out of your way to help a customer. What did you do and what was the result?

☛ In any role you can have people you don't want to deal with. Describe your worst example of this and how you managed that person.

☛ Tell me about a time where a customer did not accept the information you were providing and you needed to explain it in different terms.

☛ How have you ensured that your team or direct reports have managed to keep delivering high levels of customer service in challenging circumstances? Please provide an example.

☛ Give me an example of a time where you have needed to ensure that the organisation kept focussed on a particular customer. Why was that necessary? What steps did you take?

☛ Describe a time where you took over a difficult client. What did you do to ensure the relationship ran smoothly? What made a difference in this circumstance?

☛ Give me an example of where you have needed to say no to a customer. How did you do this, and still maintain a positive relationship?

☛ Have you ever had a client change their mind during a negotiation around a service you provide? What did you do to handle this situation?

☛ How do you determine whether a team member has client orientation? Provide an example of this.

☛ Describe a time where you needed to research a problem and come up with different alternatives to resolve it. How did you determine the most appropriate solution?

☛ Tell me about a time where you encountered something new and needed to work backwards from the end point

☛ What's the best idea you have ever had and successfully implemented?

☛ Talk about a project did not go as planned? What did you do to rectify it?

☛ Tell me about a time where you needed to consult several different groups to come up with an answer to an issue? What was the outcome?

☛ What's the most challenging workplace problem that you've encountered? What did you do to come up with a solution?

☛ If you inherited a team that you sensed was not performing optimally, what would you do to begin to solve the problem? Provide a case study to illustrate where you have done this.

☛ Describe the steps you normally take to make a decision. Tell us about a time where this did not result in the answer you anticipated and how you handled that.

☛ How do you assess the quality of decisions or recommendations that other people present to you? Provide an example?

☛ Describe a time where you needed to choose between a number of ideas? What criteria did you use?

In other words, get ready to talk about a time you juggled multiple responsibilities, organized it all (perfectly), and completed everything before the deadline.

☛ Tell me about a time you had to be very strategic in order to meet all your top priorities.

☛ Describe a long-term project that you managed. How did you keep everything moving along in a timely manner?

☛ Sometimes it's just not possible to get everything on your to-do list done. Tell me about a time your responsibilities got a little overwhelming. What did you do?

☛ Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you go about ensuring that you would meet your objective?

☛ Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?

☛ Tell me about a time when you needed to persuade someone to do something that they did not want to do? How did you go about this?

☛ Describe the most difficult communication you have needed to deliver to an inattentive audience. What did you do to prepare for this?

☛ In any role you have people you would rather not work with because their way of communicating is different to yours, or they're known to be difficult. Provide an example of a time where you have encountered this.

☛ Describe your decision making process when you choose to communicate via the phone, email or face to face?

☛ What do you think are the characteristics of a really effective communicator? When have you won an audience?

☛ Have you ever thought that people have not listened to you? What did you do in this situation?

☛ Tell me about a time where you have needed to sell an idea to your colleagues? How did you approach this?

☛ How would you describe your written communication style? Have you ever had to sell an idea through written words alone?

☛ Describe an idea that you've needed to sell "upwards." How did you go about this? What was the result?

☛ What was the most protracted negotiation you have managed? Describe a situation where you have needed to use many different tactics or techniques to overcome objections or obstacles?

☛ Have you ever given an impromptu presentation? How did that go?

☛ What are the elements of successful presentations? Describe one you have given. How did you know that you were effective in your communication?

☛ How do you know that you are a good communicator? Give an example of how you determine this?

☛ Provide an example of a situation when someone brought you a new idea that was odd or unusual and you did not want them to implement it. What did you do?

☛ Describe a time where you made a mistake in your work. How did you find the mistake?

☛ What tools do you use to check your work? Why do you use these tools? Provide an example of where you have applied these.

☛ How do you go about ensuring quality when there are time pressures? Describe a time where you have managed to produce quality work when you were under pressure.

☛ Describe a time where you found an error that was not immediately obvious.

☛ Have you ever discovered a mistake that was overlooked by everyone else? How did you find this? What was the result?

☛ Tell me about a time that you were confused by a customer's request. What steps did you take to clarify things?

☛ Have you ever needed to persuade someone above you that they had made a mistake? What did you do in this situation? How did it turn out?

☛ Describe the most challenging group you have needed to manage. What did you do to get the results you needed from the group? What was the result?

☛ What do you think it takes to be a truly effective leader? Provide an example of where you have demonstrated this.

☛ Leadership can sometimes be about being unpopular. When have you been unpopular? Why?

☛ Tell me about a time when you have needed to lead a group of peers. What did you do in this situation?

☛ Do you think leaders are born or made? What's made you an effective leader?

☛ Give an example of where you have had someone challenge your authority or ability to lead. What did you do in this situation?

☛ Describe a time where you needed to juggle your own commitments with your leadership responsibilities. What did you do?

☛ Give an example of a time where you have needed to manage in a time of uncertainty, either restructuring, redundancies or a time where there has been a merge of organisations.

☛ What do you use as an indicator that people follow you? Provide an example.

☛ Describe an obstacle you have had in becoming a leader? What did you do?

☛ Tell me about a leadership role that you have had that was not part of your formal work, perhaps in the community or in sport. What approach did you take? Why did you commit your time to this?

☛ Who do you admire as a leader and what lessons have you learned and applied from this example?

☛ You have two team members having dispute. How do you ensure that you come up with a solution that is fair to all? Provide an example.

☛ In any team you have people that do not perform. Describe the toughest person you have had to manage where it ultimately led to that person leaving. How did you handle this situation?

For questions like these, you want a story that illustrates your ability to work with others under challenging circumstances. Think team conflict, difficult project constraints, or clashing personalities.

☛ Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.

☛ Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?

☛ Describe a time when you struggled to build a relationship with someone important. How did you eventually overcome that?

☛ We all make mistakes we wish we could take back. Tell me about a time you wish you'd handled a situation differently with a colleague.

☛ Tell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn't very responsive. What did you do?

For questions like these, you want a story that illustrates your ability to work with others under challenging circumstances. Think team conflict, difficult project constraints, or clashing personalities.

☛ Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.

☛ Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?

☛ Describe a time when you struggled to build a relationship with someone important. How did you eventually overcome that?

☛ We all make mistakes we wish we could take back. Tell me about a time you wish you'd handled a situation differently with a colleague.

☛ Tell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn't very responsive. What did you do?

☛ Tell me about the most stressful situation you have found yourself in at work. What did you do in this situation?

☛ Describe a situation where you believed others were putting pressure on you. What did you do to manage this?

☛ How do you ensure that your colleagues or direct reports do not feel too much pressure? Provide an example.

☛ What's the most difficult transition you have needed to make in your career?

☛ Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to adjust to changes that were outside your influence or control?

☛ Tell me about a time when you had to adjust to someone's way of working to achieve a goal or complete a project?